Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1690

Conservative Pundit Argues for Biblical Marriage, Unaware of What Biblical Marriages Actually Looked Like

Conservative columnist Cal Thomas discussed same-sex marriage this past Sunday on Fox News, and the interview is worth watching if for no other reason than to observe the spin. Thomas believes the rights of gay and lesbian couples matter less than the imagined impact they will have on, well, people like him.

It’s an absurd idea, unless you consider discriminating against other people a “right” you have. But as Thomas tells it, the United States will soon start imprisoning pastors for speaking...

Christian Writer Creates Guide to “Training Your Wife”

We know that one of the worst aspects of conservative Christian culture is how women are often treated as inferior to men. (Or, to paraphrase pastors, they’re equal; they just have “different roles.”)

A website called the Trailer Club (“We esteem women & value them”) just offered up a perfect example of this type of sexism. I thought it was a parody site when I first saw it, but now I’m not so sure.

Author Heath Stoner posted a piece that’s literally called “The Gentlemen’s Guide To Training Yo...

The Problems with the Word “Islamophobia”

For the second time in two days, we’re revisiting a conversation on Islamophobia that took place last October between Sam Harris and Ben Affleck.

This time, YouTuber Counter Arguments unpacks that word, explaining why Affleck was so off-base with his criticism:

(Thanks to @mast_zh for the link)

Friendly Atheist Podcast Episode 59: Ex-Muslims Muhammad Syed & Heina Dadabhoy

Our latest podcast guests are Muhammad Syed, co-founder and President of Ex-Muslims of North America, and Heina Dadabhoy, an ex-Muslim atheist and feminist who writes at Heinous Dealings.

At the American Atheists 2015 convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Jessica spoke with them about the various challenges of leaving Islam and why, if you’re having religious doubts, it’s better to act on them instead of staying in the faith.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. If you have any suggestio...

Cincinnati Mayor Wanted Kids Caught Violating Curfew to Be Sent to Local Churches

Last week, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley released his “Summer Safety Initiative Plan” with goals of reducing shootings, instituting a curfew for kids, providing safe spaces for children to play, etc. All good things.

But let’s take a look at that bit about curfew.

Go home, kids. It’s late!

What happens to kids who are caught violating it?

Two Juvenile Curfew Centers will be established. One at Church of the Living God, 434 Forest Avenue, Pastor Ennis Tait and the other at First Baptist Church of...

Florida Sheriff Called Out for Delivering Sermon in Uniform

In 2010, I wrote about Polk County (Florida) Sheriff Grady Judd. At the time, he was removing basketball hoops from the local prison and giving them away to local churches. When Judd was asked why he wouldn’t give the hoops to a secular organization, his response (referencing an atheist group) was, “Why should I kowtow?”… as if giving them to a public school meant bolstering the “atheist agenda.”

In April of this year, I posted about how Judd delivered a guest sermon at First Baptist Church on...

Ayaan Hirsi Ali Wants to Know if Ben Affleck Would Play Muhammad in a Movie

In a new video for Big Think, Ayaan Hirsi Ali reflects on the “debate” between Ben Affleck and Sam Harris over what constitutes Islamophobia.

I look at the Sam Harris and Ben Affleck discussion and I think there is a thinker and somebody who’s not thinking…

…

Would Ben Affleck play the part? He can play Batman, but would be playing Mohammed? And the answer to that question tells me he needs a second chance to think these things through. Any actor in Hollywood who is very successful who is not wi...

Religious Leader Says Animals Escaping Tbilisi Zoo After Flooding Was Part of God’s Revenge

Over the weekend, the city of Tbilisi (in the nation of Georgia) faced deadly flooding that left at least a dozen people dead and several more unaccounted for. The city’s zoo was also severely damaged to the point where many animals escaped and were seen roaming the streets.

Footage from Tbilisi showed a hippopotamus roaming the streets, while a bear could be seen climbing around an apartment window. The hippo was cornered in one of the city’s main squares and subdued with a tranquilizer gun,...

Notable Atheists and Scientists Are Disassociating from the Secular Policy Institute

It was just over a year ago when Edwina Rogers (below) was fired as Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America.

It’s important to know exactly what the SCA is so you can make sense of what’s happening in this story:

The Secular Coalition for America is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization whose purpose is to amplify the diverse and growing voice of the nontheistic community in the United States.

…

The Secular Coalition represents more than 200 organizations nation-wide and adv...

Anne Nicol Gaylor, Abortion Rights Activist and Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-Founder, Has Died

Anne Nicol Gaylor, the main founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and a long-time abortion rights activist, died last night at the age of 88.

Anne Nicol Gaylor at her 80th birthday party (via Annie Laurie Gaylor)

While most of you reading this site are familiar with FFRF, you may not be aware of the enormous (and incredible controversial) service Gaylor provided for women, even in the last several years of her life.

In 1976, she began a non-profit called Women’s Medical Fund, Inc., now...